Just got back from PIR 8-13

My wife and I got back yesterday from the most uplifting and emotional graduation ceremony one could view.  I was in the same graduation event 48 years ago, but this one was more exciting.

A couple of items I would like to mention here. The Spring Hill Suites in Wakegan was an excellent

hotel to stay at. Very update and clean. The staff know how to treat Navy familys. They have a good

free breakfast and they have three or four shuttle buses that go to the base on Graduation day.($3.00 per ride per person)  This is so much more convienent than driving your car there.  We left the hotel at 0630 hrs and boarderd the bus.  There was a very long line of cars waiting to get in. We were able to bypass the cars and enter the same area the cars were going. After the graduation we got back on the same buses to go back to the hotel. Again bypassing the traffic.

There are plenty of wheel chairs at Security. The walk is long so if any of your party needs one I suggest that don"t pass it up. Plus once inside you get to sit in the front row.  Each division has a guide post out on the floor with thier Division number on it. This helps you to sit in the right area to see your Sailor. There is also light refreshments available at each end of the building.

Once the ceremony is over you get to see your sailor for the first time in eight weeks. You can then leave the base and do want you want togeather.

Several important things the new sailors want to do back at the hotel is HYGENE.(Shower alone

and use the faclities alone) . Most of the new sailors appeared uptight and uneasy. We were told this is normal. So much time given to commands and orders, it takes a short while (days) to come

down to earth.